Propulsion system and method

ABSTRACT

A method and system for developing a propulsive force which can be utilized for driving different types of water, air or land vehicles. The propulsive force is developed by rotating a driving shaft with four blades which are simultaneously rotated with the same speed around two perpendicular intercrossed axes in different directions not interfering with each other. Each blade lies generally in a plane perpendicular to the intercrossed axis around which it is rotated. Preferably, the blades have airfoil sections. During such double rotation the radial extensions of the propeller blades relative to the driving shaft are changed as a function of the angle of rotation. The rotated blades can work simultaneously both in a paddling manner and as a screw propeller with the angle of incidence of each of the blades in the plane of rotation around an intercrossed axis changed automatically depending on the position of the blade relative to the driving shaft. The propulsion system can include two or more parallel driving shafts rotated in opposite directions. In a preferred embodiment of the propulsion apparatus the hollow driving shafts are rotated together with planetary gear-boxes mounted thereon and the blades are constrained by planetary gear engagements to rotate synchronously around the axis of the driving shaft and around the intercrossed axes. The planetary gear-boxes can be filled with a lubricating oil.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Cross-reference to Related Applications

[0002] The present application is a continuation-in-part of applicationSer. No. 09/620532 filed on Jul. 20, 2000 which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/479,891 filed on Jan.10, 2000 which are copending.

[0003] 2. Field of the Invention

[0004] This invention relates generally to improvements in propellersystems, and more particularly it pertains to a new method and systemfor developing a propulsive force in a gaseous or liquid fluid and canbe used for propulsion or sustaining aircraft, marine vessels, anddifferent types of land vehicles, such for example, as snowmobiles, etc.Numerous other applications can be derived from the use of thisinvention, for example in designing apparatus for moving gaseous orliquid fluids such as fans, pumps. etc.

[0005] 3. Description of the Prior Art

[0006] Historically, various propeller or paddler systems have beendeveloped for propulsion of different types of vehicles by movement ofwater or air in opposite direction to the movement of the vehicle.Numerous patents and researches have been devoted to development suchpropulsion systems wherein the blades are pivoted simultaneously withrotation of the propeller shaft and to the problem of optimizing suchcyclic variations of the orientation of individual blades.

[0007] Some of such systems utilize rotation of propeller blades orpaddles not only around the axis of the driving shaft but also around acomplementary axes of rotation for more effective exerting propulsiveforce. The basic concepts presented in these systems is that the usablepropulsive force is developed as a result of rotating the blades aroundtwo axes of rotation with variable orientation of the rotated bladesrelative to the driving shaft.

[0008] Propulsion apparatus are known (U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,284,282 toFitzpatrick, 1,450,454 to Roney, 1,667,140 to Clark, 1923,249 to Abram)wherein blades of feathering type extend radially from the driving shaftand are rotated around radial axes simultaneously with rotation of thedriving shaft. In the peddling position the blades are held in a planeparallel to the axis of the diving shaft. In feathering position, theblades are held in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the drivingshaft. A serious drawback of such systems is that in the process ofchanging from one position to the other the blades have to be rotated 90degrees around their longitudinal axes with a considerable resistance ofthe fluid and low paddling and propulsion efficiency during suchrotation. That is why such systems have low propulsion efficiency incomparison with a screw type propellers.

[0009] There are also known propulsion apparatus wherein the propellerblades are oriented and rotated in the planes parallel to the drivingshaft (U.S. Pat. No. 3,270,820 to Frazier, British patent No. 217,223 toPensovecchio). Although having advantages in respect to the propellerswith feathering blades, such apparatus with only two blades mounted in aplane perpendicular to the propeller shaft have also low efficiency andirregular power consumption. Different combinations of such propulsionapparatus are cumbersome and the mechanisms employed to effect theiroperations are far too complicated to render them practical. For thesereasons, a limited success has been obtained by such type of apparatus.

[0010] The invention seeks to overcome the deficiencies of knownpropulsion systems and to benefit from the advantages that may beexpected from the new method and system.

[0011] The object of the invention is to provide a reliable propulsionsystem for marine vessels, aircraft and land vehicles with improvedpropulsion and energy efficiency.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The invention is based on my discovery that an effectivepropulsive force in a liquid or gaseous fluid can be developed byrotating a driving shaft with four blades which are simultaneouslyrotated around two intercrossed axes which are perpendicular to eachother in a plane perpendicular to the driving shaft. Such double rotatedblades can be used both as paddling blades and as a screw propeller.

[0013] The blades are oriented so that they are always held in planesperpendicular to the axes around which they are rotated. Preferably theblades have airfoil sections. They are connected with the driving shaftand with each other in such a way that when two parallel blades, rotatedaround one of the intercrossed axis, are oriented along the axis of thedriving shaft in opposite directions, the other two parallel bladeswhich are rotated around the other of the intercrossed axis are orientedin the direction perpendicular to the driving shaft. It was discoveredthat it is possible to rotate four such blades around perpendicularintercrossed axes without interfering with each other if each twoadjacent blades mounted in perpendicular planes are rotated in differentdirections (clockwise and counterclockwise) with the same speed. Duringsuch rotations the radial extensions of the blades relative to thedriving shaft are changed as a function of the angle of rotation so thatthey work in a paddling manner virtually during all 360 degrees ofrotation of the driving shaft with both sides of the blades being usedconsecutively as paddling surfaces.

[0014] If the rotated blades are mounted with angles of incidence in theplanes of rotation around the radial axes, they can work as a doublescrew propeller simultaneously with the paddling process. Because theorientations of the blades are constantly changed, the angles ofincidence of them must be variable.

[0015] The propulsion system can include two or more parallel drivingshafts rotated synchronously in opposite directions for developing aunidirectional propulsive force. It is possible to mount the drivingshafts in a close proximity to each other or/and to a driven vehicle bythe sides where the rotated blades are parallel to the diving shaft.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention a gear-box is mountedon each of the driving shaft. The gear-box comprises engagements ofplanetary angle mitre gears and four radial shafts on which the bladesare mounted. During the rotation of the driving shaft the blades areconstrained by the planetary gear engagements to rotate with the samespeed around the intercrossed axes of the radial shafts.

[0017] If the blades work not only in a paddling manner but also as ascrew propeller they are mounted on the radial shafts with ability toswing around the axes which are perpendicular to these shafts. Fourcircular cams are mounted coaxially with the radial shafts and a coupleof follower are fixed to each of the blades. The cams are profiled sothat the blades swing during of the rotation and their angles ofincidence are changed depending on the position of the blade relative tothe driving shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The objects and features of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with thepreferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

[0019]FIG. 1 is a schematic view from the stern of a boat with apreferred embodiment of the propulsion system and a fragmentarycross-section on the lines 1-1 of FIG. 2.

[0020]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a schematic fragmentary cross-sectional top plan view ona boat with a preferred embodiment of the propulsion system on the lines3-3 of FIG. 1.

[0022]FIG. 4 schematically illustrates another embodiment of the of thepropulsion apparatus with the blades mounted on the radial shafts withvariable angles of incidence.

[0023]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view on the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.

[0024]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the lines 6-6 of FIG. 4.

[0025]FIG. 7 is a schematic fragmentary cross-sectional view from thestern of a boat with another embodiment of propulsion system with thedriving shafts mounted on both sides of the boat.

[0026]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view on lines 8-8 of FIG. 9 of apropulsion system for a marine vessel with an alternative design of thegear-boxes.

[0027]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view on the lines 9-9 of FIG. 8

[0028]FIG. 10 is a schematic view from the stern of a boat with anotherembodiment of the propulsion system having a fragmentary cross-sectionon the lines 10-10 of FIG. 11.

[0029]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view on the lines 11-11 in FIG. 10.

[0030]FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional side elevation view of avertical takeoff and landing aircraft with a propulsion system of thepreferred embodiment on the lines 12-12 of FIG. 13.

[0031]FIG. 13 is a schematic fragmentary cross-sectional top plan viewon the lines 13-13 of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] The invented marine propulsion systems can be used as an outboardmotor application (FIGS, 1-3) or as stern drive applications (FIGS. 7,10, 11), where the engine is enclosed within the hull of a boat 10 andthe propulsion apparatus are mounted on a unit attached to the transom.Identical details have the same indications in different embodiments.

[0033] The propulsion system illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 includes twohollow driving shafts 11 which are rotatably mounted in housings 12 andcan be rotated in opposite directions by an engine 13 through gearengagements 14, 15 (or any other type of drive). Planetary gear-boxes 16are mounted on the hollow driving shafts 11. An axial support means 17which is fixed coaxially to the hollow driving shaft 11. Each gear-box16 comprises four radial shafts 18, 19, 20 and 21 which areperpendicular to each other in a plane perpendicular to the axis of thedriving shaft 11. Each of the radial shafts can be rotated in twobearings, one of which (22, 23, 24 or 25) is mounted in the wall of thegear-box and another in the central part of the gear-box (not shown).Two sun angle mitre gears 26 and 27 are mounted on the axial supportmeans 17. Two planet angle mitre gears 28 and 29 are mounted on theradial shafts 18 and 19, respectively, so that they are engaged with thesun angle mitre gear 26. Another two planet angle mitre gears 30 and 31are mounted on the radial shafts 20 and 21, respectively, and areengaged with the sun angle mitre gear 27. The planetary gear-boxes 16can be filled with a lubricating oil.

[0034] Blades 32, 33, 34 and 35 are mounted on the ends of radial shafts18, 19, 20 and 21, respectively, so that each of these blades isgenerally lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the radial shafton which it is mounted. The blades are oriented in such a way that whentwo of them (34 and 35) extend in the same direction perpendicular tothe driving shaft 11, the other two blades (32 and 33) extend inopposite directions parallel to the driving shaft 11. Preferably, theblades 32, 33, 34, 35 have airfoil sections.

[0035] In operation, the planetary gear boxes 16 are rotated togetherwith the blades 32, 33, 34, 35 in the directions indicated by arrows Aand B (FIG. 3). Simultaneously, the blades 32, 33, 34, 35 areconstrained by the planetary engagements of angle mitre gears 26, 28, 29and 27, 30, 31 to rotate around the intercrossed axes of the radialshafts 18, 19, 20, 21 with the speed of rotation of the hollow drivingshafts 11. The blades adjacent to each other in the perpendicular planesare rotated in opposite directions (clockwise and counterclockwise) notinterfering with each other. As a result of such double rotation, theblades operate in a paddling fashion with their radial extensionsrelative to the axis of the hollow driving shaft being changed as afunction of the angle of rotation. The blades 34, 35 which are in ahorizontal paddling position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofthe boat 10 have the maximum extensions and the biggest swept surface,while the other two propeller blades 32, 33 are in vertical positionsparallel to the driving shafts 11 in the planes parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the boat. After next 90 degrees of rotation of thedriving shafts 11 the blades 32, 33 come to the horizontal positionsperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the boat and the other twoblades 34, 35 come to the vertical positions (not shown). The positionsof the blades after 45 degrees of rotation of the driving shaft is shownin dashed lines.

[0036] Because the blades 32, 33, 34, 35 are rotated around horizontalaxes by radial shafts 18, 19, 20, 21, respectively, in oppositedirections indicated by the arrows C, D, E, F, they can be used as theblades of a screw propeller. For this purpose, the blades can be mountedwith angles of incidence in the planes of rotation around the horizontalaxes. Because the orientations of the blades relative to thelongitudinal axis of the boat 10 are changed in the process of paddlingwith both surfaces of the blades used consecutively for paddling, theangles of incidence of the blades must be variable. For this purpose,each of the blades is mounted on the radial shaft with ability to swingin the bearings 36 around the axis 37 which is fixed to the radial shaftin perpendicular direction, as illustrated in FIGS. 4-6. Four circularcams 38 are mounted on the gear-boxes 16 coaxially to the radial shafts18, 19, 20, 21 and the followers 39, 40 are fixed to each of the blades.The cams 38 are profiled so that during the rotation of the radialshafts the angles of incidence of the blades are changed in accordancewith the positions of the blades. In vertical positions the angles ofincidence of the blades (32, 33) are zero. When the blades (34, 35)extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the boat, the angles ofincidence are maximum.

[0037] In the propulsion system shown in FIG. 7, two vertical drivingshafts 11 are mounted on both sides of the boat 10. They are rotated inopposite direction by an engine 41 through pulleys 42, 43, belting 44, ashaft 45 and gear engagements 14, 15. The engine 41 can be mounted inthe hull of the boat.

[0038]FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a propulsion system with a differentdesign of the rotated planetary gear-boxes 16. Four angle mitre gears46, 47, 48 and 49 which are engaged with each other, are mounted in thegear-box 16 on the radial shafts 18, 19, 20 and 21, respectively. Twoplanet angle mitre gears 50, 51 are mounted on the radial shafts 18 and19, respectively, so that they are engaged with the sun angle mitre gear52 which is fixed on the axial support means 17. Each of the radialshafts 18, 19, 20, 21 is rotatably mounted in two bearings, one of which(22, 23, 24 or 25) is mounted in the wall of the gear-box 16 and anotherbearing is mounted in the central bearing support 53. In operation, therotation of the gear-box 16 is transmitted to the rotation of the blades32, 33, 34, 35 by the planetary engagements of the gears 52, 50, 51 andby four engaged gears 46, 47, 48, 49.

[0039] An alternative embodiment of the propulsion apparatus for amarine vessel 54 is illustrated in FIGS. 10, 11. A horizontal hollowdriving shaft, which consists of two parts 55 and 56 with a gear-box 57fixed between them, is mounted in the housings 58 and 59 perpendicularto the longitudinal axis of the vessel 54. The design of the planetarygear-box 57 is essentially similar to the designs of the gear-boxes 16in the embodiments of the propulsion apparatus as shown in FIGS. 1-9. Asupport means 17 which is fixed coaxially to the hollow driving shaft onthe both sides to the vessel 54 and two sun angle mitre gears 26 and 27are mounted on it, which are engaged with the planet angle mitre gears28, 29 and 30, 31, respectively.

[0040] In operation, the hollow driving shaft is rotated together withthe gear-box 57 and the blades 32, 33, 34, 35 by an engine 60 throughpulleys 61, 62 and a belting 63 (or any other type of drive) in thedirection indicated by arrow G. Simultaneously, the blades are rotatedwith the same speed around the axes of radial shafts. As a result ofsuch double rotation, the blades work in a paddling manner in thevertical plane with the maximum propulsion force being exerted in adirection astern when the blades are in vertical positions.

[0041] Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, a vertical takeoff and landingaircraft is schematically shown. A propulsion system includes two hollowdriving shafts mounted on the both sides of the fuselage 64 of theaircraft parallel to its longitudinal axis. Each of the driving shaftsconsists of two parts 67 and 68 which are mounted in the housings 65, 66with a planetary gear-boxes 69 between them. Two sun angle mitre gears70, 71 are mounted on an axial support means 72 in each of thegear-boxes 69 and the planet angle mitre gears 73, 74, 75, 76 aremounted on the radial shafts 77, 78, 79, 80, respectively. The blades81, 82, 83 and 84 are mounted on the ends of these radial shafts so thatwhen the blades 81 and 82 are oriented along the longitudinal axis ofthe aircraft the blades 83 and 84 extend sidewards in horizontaldirections from the aircraft.

[0042] In operation, the hollow driving shafts are rotated together withplanetary gear-boxes 69 synchronously in opposite directions, indicatedby arrows H and K, by the engines 85 and 86 through the gear engagements87, 88 and the blades on each side of the fuselage 64 are working as“flapping wings”. As a result, a vertical propulsive force is exertedfor lifting or sustaining the aircraft. The blades have airfoilcross-sections so that when the aircraft is moving ahead by any othertype of propeller or jet engine (not shown) the blades in horizontalpositions can be used as regular wings:

[0043] While this invention has been described with reference to thestructures disclosed herein, the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention illustrated in FIGS. 1-13 are not confined to the details asset forth and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise form disclosed. They are merely chosen anddescribed to illustrate the principle, applications, and practical useof the invention to thereby better enable others skilled in the art toutilize the invention. This application is intended to cover anymodifications of the invention, which may be variously practiced withinthe scope of the following claims or their legal equivalents, ratherthan by examples given.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of developing a propulsive force in aliquid or a gaseous fluid for driving a vehicle, including: mounting atleast one driving shaft on said vehicle; mounting four blades on saiddriving shaft with each of said blades lying generally in a planeperpendicular to one of intercrossed axes and with the ability to berotated around said intercrossed axes, wherein: said intercrossed axesof rotation being perpendicular to each other in a plane perpendicularto the axis of said driving shaft; said four blades being constrained bysaid driving shaft and oriented relative to said driving shaft so thatwhen two of said blades extend in opposite directions parallel to theaxis of said driving shaft, the other two blades extend parallel to eachother in a direction perpendicular to said driving shaft; rotating saiddriving shaft together with said blades around the axis of said drivingshaft; rotating said blades around said intercrossed axes with the speedof rotation of said driving shaft so that when one said blade is rotatedclockwise an adjacent blade is rotated counterclockwise in theperpendicular plane so that said blades do not interfere with eachother.
 2. The method of developing a propulsive force of claim 1 ,wherein said blades are mounted with variable angles of incidence in theplanes of rotations around said intercrossed axes and worksimultaneously in a paddling manner and as the blades of a screwpropeller.
 3. The method of developing a propulsive force of claim 2 ,wherein said variable angles of incidence are changed depending on theposition of said blades relative to said driving shaft.
 4. The method ofdeveloping a propulsive force of claim 1 , wherein at least two saiddriving shafts are mounted on said vehicle generally parallel to eachother and are rotated in opposite directions.
 5. A propulsion apparatuscomprising: at least one hollow driving shaft; a planetary gear-boxfixed on said driving shaft; four radial shafts mounted in saidplanetary gear-box along said intercrossed axes; at least one sun anglemitre gear fixed coaxially with said hollow driving shaft in saidplanetary gear-box; at least one planet angle mitre gear mounted on saidradial shaft and engaged with said sun angle mitre gear in saidplanetary gear-box; blades mounted on said radial shafts with each ofsaid blade lying generally in a plane perpendicular to the axis of saidradial shaft on which said bade is mounted, said blades being orientedso that when two of said blades extend parallel to the axis of saiddriving shaft in opposite directions, the other two of said blades areparallel to each other and extend in the direction perpendicular to saidhollow driving shaft; means for rotating said hollow driving shaft. 6.The propulsion apparatus of claim 5 , wherein two sun angle mitre gearsare fixed coaxially with said hollow driving shaft and engaged with saidplanet angle mitre gears.
 7. The propulsion apparatus of claim 5 ,wherein four said angle mitre gears mounted on said radial shafts areengaged with each other.
 8. The propulsion apparatus of claim 5 ,wherein: at least two of said driving shafts are mounted parallel toeach other with the ability to rotate in opposite directions.
 9. Thepropulsion apparatus of claim 8 , wherein there is means forsynchronization of rotation of said driving shafts in oppositedirections.
 10. The propulsion apparatus of claim 5 wherein said bladeshave airfoil sections.
 11. The propulsion apparatus of claim 5 , whereinsaid blades have variable angles of incidence in the planes of rotationaround the axes of said radial shafts.
 12. The propulsion apparatus ofclaim 11 , comprising a means for changing said variable angles ofincidence depending on positions of said blades relative to said drivingshaft.
 13. The propulsion apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means forchanging said variable angles of incidence include circular cams mountedon said gear boxes.
 14. A vehicle with at least one propulsion apparatusof claim 5 .
 15. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein said vehicle is amarine vessel.
 16. The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein said vehicle is anaircraft.
 17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein said blades inhorizontal positions are used as regular wings for said aircraft.